GENDER-ROLES AND ALCOHOL-ABUSE ACROSS THE TRANSITION TO PARENTHOOD

Objective: The transition to parenthood has been occurring within the context of the increasing labor force participation of women and poten tial stress-related costs of ''nontraditional'' as well as ''tradition al'' gender role choices of new parents. This study addressed the exte nt to which gender role-related stressors lead to increased problem dr inking across the transition to parenthood. Method: Fifty-five married couples expecting their first child were obtained from seven Chicago area hospitals and surveyed with a mailed questionnaire at two points in time: (1) during the second trimester of pregnancy and (2) at 6 mon ths following childbirth. The study examined both wives' and husbands' changes in problem-related drinking by comparing problem drinking dur ing the 6 months prior to pregnancy (retrospectively assessed at Time 1) with drinking during the 6 months following childbirth using a modi fied form of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. In addition, the study contrasted problem drinkers with nonproblem drinkers following p arenthood with regard to role overload (overwhelming demands from work and family roles), role deprivation (loss of work role following pare nthood) and role deterioration (decreased support from role relationsh ips). Results: The data show increased problem drinking for both mothe rs and fathers but fail to support either role overload or role depriv ation hypotheses. However, the data are congruent with the role deteri oration perspective. Conclusions: If these findings are replicated, fu ture studies of gender roles and alcohol abuse should focus greater at tention on the perceived quality of social roles beyond noting their p resence or absence.